Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Robert C. Murray

What inspired you to write “Books I & 2 of the Titan Run Trilogy”?

Murray: I’m a life-long Science Fiction fan, as well as science nerd - especially space science. I checked out a book from my elementary school’s library called “Our Universe” every chance I could get. If it were possible to wear grooves into pages with your eyes, I’d have done it with that book. As an adult I’m still fascinated about planetary science and Sci Fi - and therefore frustrated that faster than light travel remains firmly in the province of Science Fiction, especially as astronomers are finding new worlds beyond our star every day. But, about 10 years ago I started thinking on this, realizing that the worlds in our own galactic backyard have a fantastic diversity and that with just a dash of imagination I could build a story within the confines of physics as we currently understand it. Add in a dash of climatic irony (burning hydrocarbons to warm an atmosphere on purpose) and the fact that there’s an entire world out there that’s mostly hydrocarbons, and “The Titan Run Trilogy” was born.

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process, or your book?

Murray: About me? That I’m as much a fan of Science Fiction as you the readers are (see above). I love to read it, watch it, write it. When I walk my dogs late at night, I stare up at the planets and stars in the night sky, much to the consternation of my dogs who just want to do their business and get back into the house. As for my writing process, it all begins with an idea, a scenario. Then I imagine who the people would be in that scenario, and I do my best to be inclusive when I imagine those people. I don’t want to write stories that are just a bunch of white men boldly exploring while everyone else takes a back seat or is conspicuously absent. I am also very aware of the limits of my own experience and writing outside that experience; because of this I pay attention, read outside my experience, do my best to avoid lazy stereotypes, and then write people. The rest of the process is a series of ever more detailed outlines that eventually turns into a book. You could call it a fractal writing process. That’s for the Mandelbrot nerds out there.
The book? It’s definitely Science Fiction. It takes place in the future, in space, and has people in spaceships and space suits doing things on other planets. But I’ve found that it’s not your ‘typical’ science fiction, by which I mean I’ve had readers who don’t normally read SciFi tell me how much they enjoyed the book. Ultimately, it’s a story about people and what they go through alone and together. They just happen to do it in the future while in spaceships eating space food.

If "The Titan Run Trilogy" were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?

Murray: I pulled my wife in to brainstorm this one with me, because she’s really good at this and has a great memory for actors. We worked our way through most of the characters in the series, but I’m limiting my response to just the 3 characters in each storyline with the most impact / most to do:

The PHOENIX

• Captain Dalton Simmons: Sterling K. Brown. He has amazing range and presence but is also capable of such vulnerability on screen

• Commander Stephanie Grove: Frankie Adams. Yes, she’s already in another SF series playing a similar character, but she’d be perfect as Dalton’s XO

• Lieutenant Commander Gonzalo (Gonzo) Rodriguez: Michael Peña. Gonzo has an impish, insubordinate streak that Peña would nail

 The KRAKKEN 

• Propulsion Mate Wally Marsten: Rupert Grint. Wally’s kind of a doofus at heart, and Rupert brings that Big Doofus energy

• Junior Collector Hugh Saracen, Ph.D.: Dev Patel. Again, amazing presence and vulnerability.

• Junior Collector Ann Bell: Janelle Monae. I’d love to see what she could do with Ann’s storyline, plus I’m a huge fan.

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?

Murray: Write! Write some more! Put away that first thing and write another thing, then go back and rewrite the first thing. Then give it another pass. Then find someone willing to be honest with you who is also willing to read what you’ve written. Buy that person many beverages of their liking as a thanks for giving you their time. Then rewrite the thing again and figure out how you want to share it with the world. Also, not all advice is good advice. Your story is yours! Trust your gut when taking advice.

What are you working on next?

Murray: The short answer is: a lot. I’m currently working on the final installment in the Titan Run Trilogy. There are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of “Krakken and Phoenix,” and I promise you they get answered! Other than that, I have a short story collection that I want to put the finishing touches on (repackaging some stories I released under my pseudonym a few years back and adding some new shorts for good measure), and I recently had an inspiration for a Mystery in Space based on a type of FTL travel that I dreamed up on Sunday morning. I’m also also continuing to publish my weekly poetry podcast “Left Hand Poetry” and slowly compiling my 4th book of poetry, which will collect the best of the first 3 books along with a lot of new poems. But (other than the podcast) all that takes a back seat to finishing the Titan Run Trilogy!

Oh, and I’m working on a proper recipe for Martian Mushroom Casserole. If you've read the books, you’ll understand.

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